BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    







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|SENATE REVENUE & TAXATION COMMITTEE      |         SB562  - |
|                                         |        Poochigian|
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|Senator Wesley Chesbro,   |           Amended: April 5, 1999|
|Chair                     |                                 |
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|Hearing: April 21, 1999   |             |       Fiscal:  No|
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                                      SB 562 - Poochigian

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SUBJECT:  Transient Occupancy Tax: Prohibits application of  
          the tax to in-room products and services; limits  
          the tax to the lodging portion of a room  
          "package" that also includes other services  
          (admission to an amusement park or use of golf  
          course facilities) 


DIGEST 

     EXISTING LAW allows the legislative body of a city or  
county to levy a tax on the privilege of occupying a room  
in a hotel, inn, or other lodging unless the lodging is for  
any period of more than 30 days.  

     THIS BILL limits application of the transient  
occupancy tax as follows:

     1. Prohibits a legislative body from levying the tax  
with respect to any in-room product, service or amenity  
that a guest may purchase and for which a separate charge  
is imposed (such as an in-room movie).

     2. Limits the tax to only the lodging portion of an  
all-inclusive price where the following conditions are met:  


     (a) the innkeeper sells room accommodations and other  
services (such as admission to a theme park or use of a  
golf course) all included in one price with the price of  
the room accommodations and 

     (b) the innkeeper separately states on internal  
records the respective values of the room accommodations  
and the other services.  The bill provides that the  
innkeeper is not obliged to disclose to a guest the  
respective values of the room accommodations and the other  








                                      SB 562 - Poochigian

                                                    Page 
services.

     The bill also makes various technical and clarifying  
changes.  


FISCAL EFFECT: 

     The bill will have no state fiscal or revenue impact.   
It may limit or reduce tax revenues to local governments by  
restricting application of the transient occupancy tax.  


COMMENTS:


A.   Purpose of the bill

     The sponsor indicates that today many innkeepers offer  
"packages" to their guests that may include admission to an  
amusement or theme park or use of a golf course, along with  
lodging.  This bill is intended to clarify that cities and  
counties may charge the transient occupancy tax only on  
that portion of the all-inclusive price that is applicable  
to the occupancy of the room accommodations.  




Support and Opposition
     Support:California Hotel and Motel Association  
(Sponsor)
            Cal-Tax

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Consultant: Jeanette Rapp
April 15, 1999  3:55 PM